How can I check if my computer has a rootkit on it?

Jamin Grey · 2013-06-28T09:26:53

I have Microsoft Security Essentials and Spybot Search and Destroy on my computer already, and Windows is set to automatically downloads updates. I'm currently having MSSE and Spybot S&D do full scans. This morning when I started up, after the Dell startup screen, but before the Windows startup screen, the screen turned black and in the corner was a small logo and the word (I think) "Pheonix". It was only up for half a second, but I've never seen that screen before. If it is a rootkit, it's pretty dumb of them to display something onscreen during startup. If it's not a rootkit, how come I've never seen it before until this morning? I've booted up my computer loads of times in the past, and have several times went into the bios or safe mode, and I've never saw that screen before. Usually, I just turn on my computer and walk away for about a minute so Windows can start up, so that might explain missing that screen some of the time, but perhaps not all the time. How can I check if something's on here? Can I see it in the BIOS somehow? What do you think it was?

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Started by Servant of the Lord June 27, 2013 05:55 PM

11 comments, last by froop 11 years, 4 months ago

Servant of the Lord

Author

33,739

June 28, 2013 06:50 AM

I use a desktop, with a LCD monitor. The screen in question appeared inbetween the DELL startup screen and the Windows startup screen.

SimonForsman

7,644

June 28, 2013 07:07 AM

I use a desktop, with a LCD monitor. The screen in question appeared inbetween the DELL startup screen and the Windows startup screen.

it could possibly also just be caused by something slowing down POST, degrading or damaged hardware for example.

[size="1"]I don't suffer from insanity, I'm enjoying every minute of it.
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froop

642

June 28, 2013 09:26 AM

maybe that screen was turned off in bios but your bios resetted itself for some reason (mainboard battery empty or something). just a wild wild guess.

How can I check if my computer has a rootkit on it?

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How can I check if my computer has a rootkit on it?

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